**My reviews are purely opinion. While I may use some facts such as "this game sold X amount of copies" or "this is one of the best selling games for X console", I will never say "you have to like/hate this game." My review will convey what I like about the game and what I dislike as well as an overview of the game and certain aspects such as story, graphics, gameplay, etc. as well as other aspects that may pertain specifically to the reviewed game. The review score is out of 10; 0 being the worst, 5 being average, and 10 being the best. Note that games that recieve a score of 10/10 may not be perfect, but in my opinion, may be one of the best games on the console, in the genre, or what the history of games has to offer."**
Super Mario World
Platform: SNES (Original), GBA (Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2), Wii (On Virtual Console)
Developer: Nintendo
Genre: 2D Action Platformer
NA Release Date: August 13th, 1991
Super Mario World... is there anything that hasn't been said about this game? Super Mario World is one of the SNES' greatest games and one of Nintendo's finest. It's really one of the few Mario games that can actually stand side by side with Super Mario Bros. 3.
Super Mario World was released back in 1991, alongside the release of the SNES. It's one of the best launch games and even through the SNES years, it remained one of the best.
Now let's move on to the main part of this review, shall we?
Story
Okay, so Super Mario doesn't have an amazing story nor does it have much of a story at all actually. Mario and Luigi are out flying around while Bowser kidnaps Princess Toadstool and the Yoshi eggs. Mario returns to find them all missing and Mario becomes a man on a mission to save Peach and the eggs. In all honestly, the story suits this type of game very well. It's very simple and that's all that's needed.
Graphics
They're bright, they're colourful, and they're easy on the eyes. Super Mario World is one of the best looking games on the SNES with it's child-like appearance that can appeal to anyone. It didn't really push the limits of the SNES but the graphics were far from awful. Definitely one of the better looking games on the SNES library and that's saying something since it was one of the first games to be released.
Music
Kojo Kondo is the composer for Super Mario World as well as a large majority of Nintendo's games. The music in Super Mario World is fitting. It's nice to listen to while playing the game as it suits each level quite well (If the level is bright and colourful, the music is cheery but if it's dark like in a Ghost House or Castle, the music has a darker tone). My one complaint is that the music doesn't really stand out that much. There aren't any tunes that are particularly memorable for me. I know none of the songs will really be stuck in my head unless I'm trying to remember how one of them goes. But, it's all about how it sounds while playing and it sounds great.
Controls
One button to jump, one button to spin jump another button to run and grab things, and a dpad to move. How simple is that? The controls are perfect for this game. No need for button combinations, scrolling through menus, and all that other stuff. Three buttons (Well, some of the other buttons like Select and L/R Trigger have uses, but they're not that important). Easy to learn, easy to master.
Gameplay
This is where Super Mario World shines like a star. It's your simple travel from the left side to the screen to the right side kind of platformer. But everything in between those two sides is awesome. Each level brings something new. There are a large variety of enemies throughout the game, many obstacles to pass, water to swim through, pipes to go down, and so much more. One of the cool things about Super Mario World, which has been a tradition since Super Mario Bros. 3 are the power ups. This time around, Mario can grab a mushroom and become bigger, eat a fire flower and shoot fireballs, and brand new to this game, get a feather and don a cape which allows him to leap into the sky and fly. There's also four different types of Yoshis, each with their own special power. The original Green Yoshi gains power depending on the type of shell in it's mouth. Red Yoshi shoot fireballs, Blue Yoshi grows wings and lets you fly, and Yellow Yoshi stomps on the ground whenever it lands. Each one is useful in different situations but I have to say that Blue Yoshi is probably the best one because being able to fly is incredibly helpful. There is a lot to do in Super Mario World and it's no surprise that the gameplay is top notch. Another nice factor with the gameplay is the enemies. There's a nice variety of enemies in the game that do different things. Some just walk towards you like the Koopa Troopas while others rain fire down on you. Most of the enemies can be taken care of just by jumping on their head but some require the use of one of the powers or Yoshi. The bosses... well the bosses have some interesting quirks about them and how to defeat them but I think they're too easy. Also, some of the later bosses are fought the same was as earlier bosses, just with an added obstacle so there's not a whole lot of variety.
Level Design
Another area where Super Mario World shines. The levels in this game are ingenious. Some of them are simple while others are just mean in design. Some levels have you just running from one end to the other but some levels have you swimming for your life and then there's levels where you're dodging ghosts or traveling across a pool of lava and much more. Not too mention that there are 72 levels in total and 96 exits (some levels have two exits). In my journal for this game, my goal was to find all 96 exits and there's quite a feat, especially if you don't really know where to look but that what makes it challenging and it all adds up to great gameplay.
Multiplayer
There's not a lot to the two player game. One person takes control of Mario while the other takes control of Luigi (In this SNES version, they both are the exact same with a palette swap) and you take your turn until your lose a life. The best way to have fun in 2 player mode is to make a competition out of it and see who can make it the farthest without losing a life. There's also a way to take some of the other player's lives which is fun way to mess with your partner when he's not looking.
Likes: Just about everything about the game. The graphics, the controls, and the gameplay. There's very little wrong with the game. My favourite thing about the game would have to be the Special World levels; 8 levels of madness.
Dislikes: Nothing really. I think the music could be a little more catchier but it's still good regardless.
The the Point: Super Mario World is a superb game. It's got everything a gamer looks in a 2d platformer: good graphics, easy controls, challenges, and awesome gameplay. There's no denying the reasons behind why Super Mario World is so great. If you've never had a chance to play it, you should do so at some point as this is one of Nintendo's best games. If you can't find it on the SNES, there's a "remake" of it for the GBA (Some of the game is slightly changed) and if you own a Wii, you can buy it through the Virtual Console.
Score: 10/10
Showing posts with label World. Show all posts
Showing posts with label World. Show all posts
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Press Start: Super Mario World - Bowser's Castle
So we've finally reached the end of Super Mario World! It only took like.. a few months. Ahem. At any rate, after this post, I'll have a review up of the game.
Just a quick note that I did find the missing exit. It was in the Donut Secret 1 level (I placed it at the end of the Special World - PArt 2 video). Seems like I forgot about beating the level normally.
Anyway, onto Bowser's Castle. Now depending on the paths you take, this can be one of the most difficult levels or easiest levels in the game. In the first two sections, you get to choose which door you go through which determines the area you will have to go through. I went through the two easy sections.
For the first section, I went through door 2 which has me climbing on the fence and dodging a few fireballs. Unless I purposely jump down or run into the fireballs, it's very easy to go through. Then I went through door 7 which is a bit harder. You have some stationary statues shooting mini fireballs at you and gold versions of the statues that hop towards you. A little patience gets me through quite easily.
The third section (which you can start the level at if you go through the back door passage) is also quite simple. The room starts out dimmed but I hit a switch that activates a floating disco ball to shine down. In this part of the level are Ninjis, black star-shaped things that are so cute but all they do is jump so it's easy to take care of them and there's Mechakoopas which are just as easy to take out.
Finally, at the end room is Bowser. He sits on his floating bowl that has a happy face on it. There's three parts to defeating him. In the first part, all he does is float around. Not jumping at him gaurantees Iwon't get hit. Then eventually, he throws down two Mechakoopas. I jump on one, pick it up, and toss it up into the air and it lands ontop of Bowser's head, hitting him. I do the same with the next Mechakoopa. Two hits and Bowser retreats from the screen, sends down flames which are easily avoided and comes back. Peach appears on the floating bowl, screaming help, and throws down a mushroom.
In the second part of Bowser, he floats around again but stops, flips the bowl upside down, and a giant bowling ball falls and rolls my way. A good timed jump over it dodges. He does it again, sends out some Mechakoopas and just like before, Bowser takes another two hits. He retreats, flames rain down (The flame remains on the ground but there's a space in between each flame that Mario can stand in), Peach shows up and she throws down another mushroom.
The third part of Bowser is the hardest. This time, he bounces on the ground as he tries to hit me. I carefully run past him after he hits the ground and pops back up. He throws down two more Mechakoopas. It's a bit harder to hit him this time around since he's still bouncing my way but I manage to take him out all the same.
So, once I've beaten him, Peach drops down and Bowser spins away into the sky. MArio and PEach share a kiss and the end credits roll.
And there you have it. The end of Super Mario World with all 96 exits found. I won't say much about the game since I will be doing much of that in my review so keep watching for that in the next post or two.
Bowser's Castle - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRgr7NA9GAA
I've included the ending and credits at the end of the game.
Just a quick note that I did find the missing exit. It was in the Donut Secret 1 level (I placed it at the end of the Special World - PArt 2 video). Seems like I forgot about beating the level normally.
Anyway, onto Bowser's Castle. Now depending on the paths you take, this can be one of the most difficult levels or easiest levels in the game. In the first two sections, you get to choose which door you go through which determines the area you will have to go through. I went through the two easy sections.
For the first section, I went through door 2 which has me climbing on the fence and dodging a few fireballs. Unless I purposely jump down or run into the fireballs, it's very easy to go through. Then I went through door 7 which is a bit harder. You have some stationary statues shooting mini fireballs at you and gold versions of the statues that hop towards you. A little patience gets me through quite easily.
The third section (which you can start the level at if you go through the back door passage) is also quite simple. The room starts out dimmed but I hit a switch that activates a floating disco ball to shine down. In this part of the level are Ninjis, black star-shaped things that are so cute but all they do is jump so it's easy to take care of them and there's Mechakoopas which are just as easy to take out.
Finally, at the end room is Bowser. He sits on his floating bowl that has a happy face on it. There's three parts to defeating him. In the first part, all he does is float around. Not jumping at him gaurantees Iwon't get hit. Then eventually, he throws down two Mechakoopas. I jump on one, pick it up, and toss it up into the air and it lands ontop of Bowser's head, hitting him. I do the same with the next Mechakoopa. Two hits and Bowser retreats from the screen, sends down flames which are easily avoided and comes back. Peach appears on the floating bowl, screaming help, and throws down a mushroom.
In the second part of Bowser, he floats around again but stops, flips the bowl upside down, and a giant bowling ball falls and rolls my way. A good timed jump over it dodges. He does it again, sends out some Mechakoopas and just like before, Bowser takes another two hits. He retreats, flames rain down (The flame remains on the ground but there's a space in between each flame that Mario can stand in), Peach shows up and she throws down another mushroom.
The third part of Bowser is the hardest. This time, he bounces on the ground as he tries to hit me. I carefully run past him after he hits the ground and pops back up. He throws down two more Mechakoopas. It's a bit harder to hit him this time around since he's still bouncing my way but I manage to take him out all the same.
So, once I've beaten him, Peach drops down and Bowser spins away into the sky. MArio and PEach share a kiss and the end credits roll.
And there you have it. The end of Super Mario World with all 96 exits found. I won't say much about the game since I will be doing much of that in my review so keep watching for that in the next post or two.
Bowser's Castle - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRgr7NA9GAA
I've included the ending and credits at the end of the game.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Press Start: Super Mario World - Forest of Illusion
Hooray for an update, this time featuring the Forest of Illusion, a doozie of an area. These levels are definitely the most difficult so far in the game.
Levels Completed
- Forest of Illusion 1 (2 Exits), 2 (2 Exits), 3 (2 Exits), 4 (2 Exits)
- Forest Ghost House (2 Exits)
- Forest Secret Area
- Forest Fortress
- Roy's Castle
- Blue Switch Palace
Talk about long levels. Each of the regular stages had two exits each, with some exits just leading to another regular stage.
Well, what's there to say? I had a lot of fun with these levels. Forest of Illusion 1 introduced Wigglers, those caterpillar things which Yoshi can eat up in one gulp. And yes, I lost Yoshi once again... though I did it on purpose this time (I can be such a jerk sometimes. >_>). Forest of Illusion 2 was a swimming level which I'm not very fond of because it just feels slow. This level was really long too and I had to go through it twice. Forest of Illusion 3 is a fun level and brings in the Bob-ombs... in bubbles. All the enemies are in bubbles actually, just floating and randomly popping. Once again, I get Yoshi who I manage to keep the first time through the level. Forest of Illusion 4 was easy as pie (I don't even know what that phrase is suppose to mean). A lot of Lakitus throwing Spinies at you.
The ghost house was kind of hard because in the first area, you're in such an enclosed space with those boos that chase you if you have your back turned to them. Then you've got Eeries which fly across the screen that you need to dodge.
Forest Secret Area is an interesting level too. You've got two platforms that move diagonally up and down and you have to travel on them across a massive hole while dodging flying koopa troopas. I had a lot of fun in this one playing hacky sack, seeing how long I could keep hitting a shell as Cape Mario. Next up is Forest Fortress (Has a ring to it, doesn't it?). First area I goof up and die while trying to dodge the giant logs (at least I think they're logs) while avoiding spinning blades as the screen scrolls. Next area is like Saw, but more entertaining with spinning blades everywhere you go. If you have Cape Mario and go past the first door, then fly across the lava pit until you reach the end, you can get a ton of green mushrooms. The boss here is just another squad of those fireball shooting triceratops.
Roy's Castle, here we go. The first time through, I end up dying. Mainly because I misjudged my spacing and got hit by a fireball and fall down a hole. The first area you have to travel across a moving platform made out of those blocks which move like the snake in the game Snake while the second area has you jumping over statues shooting fireballs at you while dodging flames. I died in the second area. Anyway, after all that, you get to Roy which is the same as Morton but the walls close after every hit. This was the easiest boss yet. I beat him in about 10 seconds or so. Wow.
Well now that I'm out of the forest, it's onto the delicious Chocolate Island.
Forest of Illusion (Part 1) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdpxweYKVc4
Forest of Illusion (Part 2) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYW9aChiuRw
Forest of Illusion (Part 3) - Chttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIWlxfvXTE8
Levels Completed
- Forest of Illusion 1 (2 Exits), 2 (2 Exits), 3 (2 Exits), 4 (2 Exits)
- Forest Ghost House (2 Exits)
- Forest Secret Area
- Forest Fortress
- Roy's Castle
- Blue Switch Palace
Talk about long levels. Each of the regular stages had two exits each, with some exits just leading to another regular stage.
Well, what's there to say? I had a lot of fun with these levels. Forest of Illusion 1 introduced Wigglers, those caterpillar things which Yoshi can eat up in one gulp. And yes, I lost Yoshi once again... though I did it on purpose this time (I can be such a jerk sometimes. >_>). Forest of Illusion 2 was a swimming level which I'm not very fond of because it just feels slow. This level was really long too and I had to go through it twice. Forest of Illusion 3 is a fun level and brings in the Bob-ombs... in bubbles. All the enemies are in bubbles actually, just floating and randomly popping. Once again, I get Yoshi who I manage to keep the first time through the level. Forest of Illusion 4 was easy as pie (I don't even know what that phrase is suppose to mean). A lot of Lakitus throwing Spinies at you.
The ghost house was kind of hard because in the first area, you're in such an enclosed space with those boos that chase you if you have your back turned to them. Then you've got Eeries which fly across the screen that you need to dodge.
Forest Secret Area is an interesting level too. You've got two platforms that move diagonally up and down and you have to travel on them across a massive hole while dodging flying koopa troopas. I had a lot of fun in this one playing hacky sack, seeing how long I could keep hitting a shell as Cape Mario. Next up is Forest Fortress (Has a ring to it, doesn't it?). First area I goof up and die while trying to dodge the giant logs (at least I think they're logs) while avoiding spinning blades as the screen scrolls. Next area is like Saw, but more entertaining with spinning blades everywhere you go. If you have Cape Mario and go past the first door, then fly across the lava pit until you reach the end, you can get a ton of green mushrooms. The boss here is just another squad of those fireball shooting triceratops.
Roy's Castle, here we go. The first time through, I end up dying. Mainly because I misjudged my spacing and got hit by a fireball and fall down a hole. The first area you have to travel across a moving platform made out of those blocks which move like the snake in the game Snake while the second area has you jumping over statues shooting fireballs at you while dodging flames. I died in the second area. Anyway, after all that, you get to Roy which is the same as Morton but the walls close after every hit. This was the easiest boss yet. I beat him in about 10 seconds or so. Wow.
Well now that I'm out of the forest, it's onto the delicious Chocolate Island.
Forest of Illusion (Part 1) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdpxweYKVc4
Forest of Illusion (Part 2) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYW9aChiuRw
Forest of Illusion (Part 3) - Chttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIWlxfvXTE8
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Press Start: Super Mario World - Yoshi's Island
The first entry for Super Mario World is here. The first area is Yoshi's Island. I don't think there's much to comment on, No secrets or anything of the sort.
Levels Completed
- Yoshi's Island #1-4
- Yellow Switch Palace
- Iggy's Castle
I just flew by all the stages. You could really just run and jump through every stage without having to worry too much. The exception is on Yoshi's Island #3 where you're jumping on the tall platforms and you might accidentally fall to your death. Funny note: A slipped and almost fell down but I was riding on Yoshi and I jumped off him to make it to the ledge. Poor Yoshi. Iggy's castle is a joke and so is Iggy himself since all I needed to do is jump on him and knock him off the ledge. I did suffer a hit and shrunk but I got another Flower power up. All in all, it was an easy set of levels and a good set to ease me in.
Yoshi's Island: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57ClRut8yMg
Levels Completed
- Yoshi's Island #1-4
- Yellow Switch Palace
- Iggy's Castle
I just flew by all the stages. You could really just run and jump through every stage without having to worry too much. The exception is on Yoshi's Island #3 where you're jumping on the tall platforms and you might accidentally fall to your death. Funny note: A slipped and almost fell down but I was riding on Yoshi and I jumped off him to make it to the ledge. Poor Yoshi. Iggy's castle is a joke and so is Iggy himself since all I needed to do is jump on him and knock him off the ledge. I did suffer a hit and shrunk but I got another Flower power up. All in all, it was an easy set of levels and a good set to ease me in.
Yoshi's Island: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57ClRut8yMg
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